Timber identification trial 

In e-update 40 we provided details of the Department's timber identification trial (trial).

This work formed part of the government's illegal logging budget measure to support legislative reforms, and considered various timber identification testing methods to determine their optimal use under reformed illegal logging laws. We worked with Australian and international experts and service providers to design the trial, which concluded in June 2024.

What the trial involved

In close collaboration with the department, an Australian laboratory purchased regulated timber products from the Australian market. These products included wooden hair combs, paper drinking straws and construction timber. Product samples were sent to reputable third-party laboratories both in Australia and overseas for testing against existing reference databases to determine species and/or origin. 

The trial utilised a range of scientific timber testing techniques, including:

• wood anatomy analysis
• fibre analysis 
• DNA analysis 
• stable isotope ratio analysis 
• trace element analysis.

Over 170 products were collected from 40 retailers or traders across 45 locations in 4 states. Over 670 tests were performed by four participating laboratories on most of these products.

In addition to the timber testing undertaken by laboratories, we obtained portable timber imaging equipment to trial the accuracy and usability of screening applications outside laboratory settings. This included Xylotron and Xylorix devices.

Departmental officers received specialised training from experts on product sampling and preparation and analysis of results for various testing techniques. 

Under the budget measure, we also explored IT solutions for streamlining data collection and management of declarations. This included supporting the expansion of a global timber testing reference database.

While not an official part of our trial, in April this year departmental officers attended an International Wood ID Workshop in Bogor, Indonesia. Officers gained exposure to a range of leading Wood ID researchers. The department will draw from this experience when shaping implementation options for future timber testing activities.

What we learned

Testing results

Approximately 25% of products tested were found to have results indicating an inconsistency with declared species and/or origin.

It is important to note that the selection of products under this study were based on a risk-assessment process. Therefore, they are not representative of the entire Australian market, but rather a subset of products identified as higher risk.

However, these results suggest illegally logged products are making their way onto the Australian market. While misrepresentation of products does not indicate illegality, these findings emphasise the importance of taking your due diligence requirements seriously to mitigate the risk of importing or processing timber from illicit sources.

The legislative reform of our illegal logging laws aims to ensure they remain fit-for-purpose and aligned with international best practice to protect the Australian market from illegally logged timber.

Key findings

Outcomes of this trial focused on understanding the workings of timber testing and results have not been used for compliance purposes. However, the trial provided useful market insights, including identifying areas of concern regarding misrepresented and potentially illegally logged product.

These insights reflect reports made by environmental NGOs and the media in terms of geographies and products. In particular, the trial found there to be:

• multiple instances of undeclared veneers and solid timber products of potential, or likely, Russian, or Eastern origins, spanning a range of retailers
• a significant amount of undeclared content in paper products
• uncertainty around the origin of some products declared as Burmese teak
• misleading information for oak from the USA and Europe.

We urge importers to consider these insights when undertaking their due diligence activities, including the risk assessment, before importing a regulated timber product.

Technologies

Considering a range of available technologies confirmed there is no 'one size fits all' approach. Future use of these technologies under legislative reforms will likely include multiple technologies for different purposes—considering the speed, accuracy, accessibility, stage of development, and available reference data.

Verification success

Laboratories used available or assumed species/origin to verify such claims using existing reference data to find a match. Where no information on the species or origin was available, identifying products was more challenging, as laboratories relied on a much wider range of reference datasets.

This highlights the need for the department to receive species and origin information before timber and timber products enter our market. This supports a key reform under the Illegal Logging Prohibition Amendment Bill 2024 that will introduce a notification requirement.

Resources

The trial emphasised the breadth of expertise and resources required to map on a global scale the array of timber genus or species worldwide. These resources are required on both a domestic and international level.

Our grant to World Forest ID is supporting the expansion of their global timber reference database to allow us to verify more species and origins of interest to Australia.

What's next

We are analysing the final outcomes of the trial, including timber verification results, key learnings, and recommendations. 

We will use these findings to guide our approach in developing possible timber testing activities under legal reforms. 

We will continue to update you on the legislative reform process and future implementation as this work progresses. 
 

• See the department's illegal logging website for information and resources
• Email the department's compliance branch
• Call the department during business hours (8.30 am to 5.30 pm) on 1800 657 313 or +61 2 6272 3933 outside Australia